LONDON – A former UFC title challenger who’s currently ranked No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, Rory MacDonald has certainly earned his status as one of the top 170-pounders in the world.

However, riding back-to-back losses for the first time in his career, MacDonald (18-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) believes he’s “got a lot to redeem” in his upcoming Bellator debut. Which is why the May 19 headliner against Paul Daley (39-14-2 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) is not simply about getting his hand raised again.

“The statement needs to be made with my performance,” MacDonald said during a press conference in London today. “And I’ve been working hard on new things. I’m shying away from point fighting a little bit. I want my strengths to shine in this fight. I want to come after Paul. I want to put him away early and in impressive fashion.

“This fight won’t look anything like that (Stephen Thompson) fight. I have a lot to prove. That fight is probably the most embarrassing fight of my career. I want to make a statement with this fight. I won’t be looking anything like that. I won’t be picking shots from the outside circling. You’ll be seeing the old Rory back.”

Bellator 179 takes place May 19 at SSE Arena in London. The main card will air in Spike, though complete broadcast plans haven’t been announced. (Past Bellator events in Europe have aired on a tape-delay basis on Spike.)

Today’s news conference was also attended by Derek Anderson, who’s set to have his welterweight debut against Michael Page; heavyweight Bobby Lashley, who’d just been announced by Bellator President Scott Coker as part of the card; and, of course, Daley himself. Page, Coker informed, couldn’t attend due to illness.

The tone between Daley and MacDonald was cordial, respectful and even playful at times. Daley, who’d been asking for the scrap from the start, made no secret of how much he admires the Canadian fighter, who he repeatedly placed among “the best in the world.” So much that, when they first shook hands, his inner fan came out.

“It was just really great to meet him,” Daley said. “I am a true fan of the sport, as well as being a fighter. I’ve never met Rory. I’ve seen him fight a lot. I’ve been a big big fan of his fighting style and what he does in the cage, so it was just a bit of a fanboy moment, if anything, finally meeting the guy before I fight him on May 19.”

But then, of course, even respect has its limits.

“I do hold him in high regard,” Daley said. “And that’s also one of the reasons I called him out. I like to test myself, and I think this is a big test for me, but I’ve been in these tests before and I passed them. I’m expecting a tough fight, but I’m also expecting to win. And win by knockout.”

MacDonald said that his intention upon signing with Bellator following the decision to not renew his UFC deal was to face 170-pound champ Douglas Lima. But, with that failing to materialize given injury issues on Lima’s end, he sees the Daley matchup as a chance to properly make his way up in the new promotion.

“I kept asking, like every week, ‘Put that (Lima) fight together,'” MacDonald said. “But it didn’t happen. A lot comes down to timing, and I understand. These guys need a break after a fight and he got hurt, so I understand. Not going for the title, the guy to get to the title will be Paul, so it’s the perfect fight.

“It’s my first fight in Bellator and people are going to see me working up the ladder. They’re going to see me fighting the No.1 contender for that title shot. So I think people get to see a little build up in the division for me.”

While they disagree as far as outcome goes, both headliners seem to entertain similarly violent expectations as to how the scrap will play out. In true “Red King” fashion, MacDonald predicts a “bloody fight” and a “war,” while Daley believes his Canadian opponent and his “fighter spirit” will provide for a “blood-and-guts type of fight.”

MacDonald also clarified that, in spite of what he originally expected, he didn’t need surgery on his nose – which is actually “straighter” after Stephen Thompson broke it at last June’s UFC Fight Night 89. Now, confident it’s “at 100 percent” after a lot of patience, he “can’t wait to get my hands on somebody.”

The idea, MacDonald says, is to stay as active as possible moving forward. And, since he’s not “too big on cutting weight all the time,” sees going back-and-forth between 170 and 185 pounds as a good way to fight every three months.

Asked about maybe facing former PRIDE champion and MMA legend Wanderlei Silva, who’s set to return this year from a three-year suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission, MacDonald didn’t wince.

“Let’s do it,” MacDonald said. “That’s perfect.”

In fact, why stop at middleweight?

“If someone were to drop out, like, say Paul got injured last minute, I’ll fight anyone on the card,” MacDonald said. “I don’t care how big they are. So Bellator doesn’t have to worry about getting a replacement fight.”

Noticing that Paul Daley pointed at Bobby Lashley as he made that remark, MacDonald reiterated.